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Category: Cavaliers

Latest Cleveland Cavaliers Rumors and News.

  • NBA Notes: Cavs, Jonathan Kuminga, Suns, Dillon Brooks, Timberwolves

    NBA Notes: Cavs, Jonathan Kuminga, Suns, Dillon Brooks, Timberwolves

    Cavaliers

    The Cavaliers may have missed on LeBron James, but Chase Brownawell of Cavs On SI argues Jonathan Kuminga could still give the offseason a much-needed lift.

    Kuminga, a free agent who ended last season with the Hawks, remains one of the more intriguing young wings potentially available. Brownawell’s case centers largely on defense.

    The 23-year-old has already played five NBA seasons, owns championship experience from his Warriors days and showed in Atlanta that he can defend multiple positions. That’s especially appealing for a Cleveland team built around Donovan Mitchell and James Harden in the backcourt.

    Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen give the Cavs plenty of size inside. Brownawell argues Kuminga could give them somebody capable of taking tougher perimeter assignments.

    There would still be complications.

    Kuminga’s asking price remains significant, and a sign-and-trade with Atlanta would likely require Cleveland to send out players and draft compensation. Brownawell mentions Max Strus, Dennis Schroder and Sam Merrill as possibilities.

    Peyton Watson remains another option on Cleveland’s radar.

    The larger point: Kuminga may no longer be Plan A, but Brownawell believes he’d still fill an obvious need and qualify as a meaningful offseason addition.

    Suns

    Dillon Brooks isn’t being shy about what he wants from the Suns.

    “Championship is all on my mind,” Brooks told The Arizona Republic after signing a three-year, $73 million extension with Phoenix.

    Donnie Druin of Suns On SI writes that Brooks has quickly become an important part of the team’s identity.

    Brooks brought his usual defensive edge along with scoring last season and earned praise from coach Jordan Ott for the tone he sets behind the scenes.

    Ott specifically pointed to Brooks’ work habits, saying his willingness to consistently be in the gym has rubbed off on teammates.

    That helps explain why Phoenix was willing to make a significant commitment.

    Brooks is now under contract through 2028-29 and will remain part of a core that also features Devin Booker and Jalen Green.

    The Suns still have plenty to prove, but Brooks clearly doesn’t view simply making the playoffs as the goal.

    Timberwolves

    Tim Connelly has rarely been afraid to make a major move in Minnesota.

    Ben Beecken of Timberwolves On SI argues his latest pivot, acquiring LaMelo Ball to pair with Anthony Edwards, might eventually prove to be one of his best.

    Beecken traces Connelly’s tenure through several major roster changes, beginning with the blockbuster Rudy Gobert trade, followed by the Mike Conley acquisition, the Karl-Anthony Towns deal and now the move for Ball.

    His argument is essentially that Connelly has repeatedly accepted short-term risk in exchange for raising Minnesota’s ceiling or floor.

    The Ball trade is the latest example. When healthy, Ball has shown he can drive an elite offense. Beecken notes that Charlotte ranked first offensively from Jan. 1 through the end of last season, with Ball playing a central role.

    Pair that with Gobert’s defensive impact and Edwards’ star power, and Beecken sees the ingredients for one of the better teams in the league.

    There are obvious concerns. Minnesota sacrificed considerable depth in reshaping the roster, losing Julius Randle, Naz Reid and Conley, and there’s still a question at power forward.

    Still, Beecken points to Connelly’s broader track record. The Timberwolves have remained a playoff team through multiple major roster changes, including consecutive trips to the Western Conference finals before last season’s second-round exit. The gamble now is pretty straightforward.

    If Ball stays healthy, Minnesota may have enough offensive firepower to take another step. If he doesn’t, Connelly has far fewer assets available for another dramatic pivot.

  • NBA Notes: Jazz, Kevin Love, Cavs, offseason, Wizards

    NBA Notes: Jazz, Kevin Love, Cavs, offseason, Wizards

    Jazz

    Kevin Love’s future remains unsettled, and Jared Koch of Jazz On SI writes that Philadelphia’s interest only makes a return to Utah a little more complicated.

    Love remains a free agent after averaging 6.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in 37 appearances for the Jazz last season.

    ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that Love’s agent, Jeff Schwartz, has been in contact with the 76ers since LeBron James chose Philadelphia. Love and James remain close and, naturally, the idea of another reunion has generated plenty of attention.

    Koch notes that Utah shouldn’t necessarily be ruled out, either.

    Love developed a strong relationship with Jazz coach Will Hardy and was viewed as a valuable veteran presence around the team’s younger players. Love has also indicated he’d be open to returning.

    The biggest issue for both teams is roster space.

    Utah already has 15 players on standard contracts, though Mo Bamba’s deal is only partially guaranteed. Philadelphia has its own roster and hard-cap issues to navigate.

    So Love apparently has two destinations that could make sense. Neither has an especially easy path to signing him at the moment.

    Cavaliers

    The Cavaliers didn’t land LeBron James and haven’t exactly dominated the NBA transaction wire this summer.

    Still, Zach Weiss of Cavs On SI argues there are reasons for fans not to view the offseason as a failure.

    At the top of his list is continuity. Donovan Mitchell signed a long-term extension, Evan Mobley remains in Cleveland despite trade speculation, and Jarrett Allen is still around. James Harden, acquired for Darius Garland during last season, is also expected to finalize a new deal.

    Weiss also points to second-round pick Meleek Thomas, who led Las Vegas Summer League in scoring at 27.3 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from three.

    And then there’s last season itself. Cleveland reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time without James in decades before losing to the Knicks.

    Weiss’ basic argument is that while the Cavs didn’t deliver a splashy offseason, they retained much of what made them successful and may still have another move coming.

    Whether that’s enough to keep pace in an improved East is the bigger question.

    Wizards

    Alondes Williams is back with the Wizards, though Henry Brown of Wizards On SI cautions against viewing the move as anything that changes the organization’s larger offseason plans.

    Washington agreed to a deal with Williams after he showed flashes during a brief stint with the team last season.

    Williams appeared in four games for the Wizards and had one especially memorable night, scoring 25 points on 9-of-11 shooting against the Pacers.

    His new deal is expected to give him another training-camp opportunity, but Brown notes that Williams isn’t necessarily being penciled into Washington’s regular-season rotation.

    The Wizards still have flexibility to add another player, and Brown mentions several veterans who could remain possibilities, including Anthony Gill, Russell Westbrook, DeMar DeRozan, Aaron Holiday and Gabe Vincent.

    Williams, meanwhile, gives Washington another familiar guard who can score and potentially provide depth if injuries hit.

    In other words, it’s a useful camp move. Probably not the final word on the Wizards’ offseason.

  • James Harden’s misdemeanor gun charge dismissed in Texas

    James Harden’s misdemeanor gun charge dismissed in Texas

    A misdemeanor gun charge against James Harden has been dismissed.

    As relayed by John Hanna of The Associated Press, the Cavaliers guard avoided a criminal conviction after completing an alternative resolution program stemming from his June arrest in Houston.

    Harden was arrested June 13 after police discovered a handgun in his vehicle during a traffic stop. Under Texas law, carrying a gun in plain view inside a vehicle without a license can result in a misdemeanor charge.

    Court records show the case has now been dismissed.

    Alternative resolution programs can allow defendants to avoid convictions by completing requirements such as community service, though court documents did not disclose the specific terms of Harden’s agreement, per the AP.

    The charge was never viewed as an obstacle to Harden’s anticipated return to Cleveland.

    Harden declined his $42.3 million player option for the 2026-27 season in June, but the Cavaliers and the former NBA MVP have continued working toward a new multiyear contract.

    The delay has been about roster flexibility, not Harden’s legal situation.

    Cleveland has been exploring additional moves this offseason, including a possible sign-and-trade for Nuggets restricted free agent Peyton Watson. Harden has been willing to wait on finalizing his deal while the Cavs determine what else they can accomplish.

    With the Texas case resolved, one piece of Harden’s offseason business is officially behind him. The Cavs are still working on the other.

  • Cavs’ starting lineup ranked among NBA’s best, but one question remains

    Cavs’ starting lineup ranked among NBA’s best, but one question remains

    The Cavaliers aren’t exactly lacking star power. What they may still be lacking is a clear answer at small forward.

    Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report ranked Cleveland’s projected starting lineup seventh in the NBA, with James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen making up the expected first five.

    That assumes Harden returns, which remains the plan.

    “Four of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ starting positions are locked in, assuming Harden returns on a new contract,” Swartz wrote. “Strus and Jaylon Tyson could battle for the fifth spot.”

    Strus would appear to have the early advantage after coach Kenny Atkinson leaned heavily on him during last season’s playoff run. Tyson remains an option, particularly given his ability to defend and stretch the floor.

    But the roster may not be finished.

    Harden has yet to formally sign his new contract as the Cavs attempt to maintain enough financial flexibility to pursue another significant addition.

    Cleveland has been among the teams exploring a sign-and-trade for Nuggets restricted free agent Peyton Watson and also has interest in Jonathan Kuminga.

    Either player could change the equation at small forward.

    The rest of the starting group isn’t much of a mystery. Harden, Mitchell, Mobley and Allen give the Cavs four players with All-Star credentials and helped lead them to the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

    That run ended abruptly with a sweep at the hands of the Knicks, leaving Cleveland with the same basic question it carried into the offseason.

    Is this core good enough to win the East?

    The Cavs lost Dean Wade, Keon Ellis and Larry Nance Jr. this summer and added Mario Hezonja after LeBron James chose Philadelphia in free agency.

    Landing Watson or Kuminga would represent something considerably bigger.

    And if the Cavs can pull it off, that projected starting five could look different before anyone plays a game.

  • Cavs, Bucks, Clippers remain in pursuit of Peyton Watson

    Cavs, Bucks, Clippers remain in pursuit of Peyton Watson

    Peyton Watson remains a restricted free agent. Increasingly, it sounds as if he may not remain a Nugget.

    ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Cavaliers, Bucks and Clippers are among the teams pursuing sign-and-trade possibilities for Watson, with Denver receiving interest involving both players and draft picks.

    “There are combinations of player packages, pick packages as well,” Charania said on NBA Today.

    Charania added that Denver’s choices could eventually come down to trading Watson or having the 23-year-old return on his one-year, $6.5 million qualifying offer.

    The Hawks are also interested, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic, who confirmed Milwaukee’s pursuit as well.

    The Bucks apparently aren’t eager to include a first-round pick in a deal. That could mean sending Denver a player of value instead, with Nehm raising Jaime Jaquez Jr. as one possibility.

    There would be some financial gymnastics involved there.

    Milwaukee is operating under a first-apron hard cap, while Denver can’t take salary back in a sign-and-trade unless the Nuggets move below the second apron. So this isn’t necessarily as simple as finding two teams that like each other’s players.

    Watson could always accept the qualifying offer and return to Denver for one more season. Doing so would give him an implicit no-trade clause and allow him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

    But the recent chatter may be pointing in another direction.

    Ryan Blackburn of Mile High Sports noted that Watson’s representatives appear to be spending more time exploring opportunities elsewhere than working toward a return to Denver. Whether that’s because of money, Watson’s projected role with the Nuggets or some combination of the two remains unclear.

    What is clear is that Watson has options. And with Cleveland, Milwaukee, Los Angeles and Atlanta all reportedly interested, Denver may have some options of its own.

  • NBA Notes: Cavs, Jonathan Kuminga, Peyton Watson, Hornets, Derrick Williams

    NBA Notes: Cavs, Jonathan Kuminga, Peyton Watson, Hornets, Derrick Williams

    Cavaliers

    The Cavaliers’ offseason appears to be stuck in waiting mode.

    John Hobbs of Cavaliers On SI wrote that Cleveland’s pursuit of restricted free agents Jonathan Kuminga and Peyton Watson has helped slow the rest of its summer, including the expected re-signing of James Harden.

    Harden still wants to remain with the Cavs, but has given the organization some room to continue working on the roster before finalizing a deal. That seems to be where Kuminga and Watson come in.

    Both players would likely require a sign-and-trade, and Cleveland has been linked to both throughout the offseason. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne recently said on NBA Today that the Cavs are still “poking around” on Watson, which may be part of the reason Harden has remained patient.

    The issue, of course, is price. Watson may be the more difficult target, with the Nuggets believed to still value him highly. Hobbs noted that Denver is expected to want at least one first-round pick in any deal involving Watson.

    Kuminga may be more attainable, but his next contract remains a factor, too.

    So the Cavs are in a holding pattern, or so it seems. They missed on LeBron James, added Mario Hezonja, and still have Harden’s return sitting out there as the next major piece of business.

    Hornets

    The Hornets have more players than roster spots. That means someone has to go.

    As Owen O’Connor of Hornets On SI noted, Charlotte currently has 17 players under standard contracts and will need to get down to 15 before the regular season.

    That may not be easy after an offseason that reshaped the roster around Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel and Coby White. The Hornets moved on from LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, then added veterans such as Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale and Naz Reid.

    O’Connor listed Tre Mann, Dorian Finney-Smith and Pat Connaughton as three names worth watching.

    Mann is the most interesting of the group. Before a back injury derailed him, he looked like a possible long-term sixth man in Charlotte. Last season was a struggle, but the Hornets are not exactly overflowing with ball-handlers.

    Finney-Smith could be harder to move because of his contract. Charlotte acquired him from Houston along with second-round picks, but he is still owed more than $40 million over the final three years of his deal.

    Connaughton may be the simplest decision financially. He is entering the final year of his contract at $3.8 million, though he made the roster last season after entering camp as no sure thing.

    In other words, Charlotte has some depth. Now it has to decide which depth actually fits.

    International

    Derrick Williams is still going. The former No. 2 overall pick has signed with the Seoul Samsung Thunders in South Korea, as Dario Skerletic of Sportando relayed from the team’s announcement.

    Williams, 35, last played in the NBA during the 2017-18 season, when he had a brief stint with the Lakers. He appeared in 428 NBA games with the Timberwolves, Kings, Knicks, Heat, Cavaliers and Lakers, averaging 8.9 points and 4.0 rebounds.

    Since then, Williams has continued his career overseas, with stops in China, Germany, Turkey, Spain, Israel, Greece, Puerto Rico and Korea.

    He spent last season with Suwon KT Sonicboom, so this will be his second straight year in South Korea.

  • Byron Scott thinks James Harden kept LeBron James from Cavs return

    Byron Scott thinks James Harden kept LeBron James from Cavs return

    LeBron James considered a third stint with the Cavaliers.

    Byron Scott believes the presence of James Harden may have prevented it from happening.

    “If they didn’t have James Harden, I think he would have done it a third time,” Scott said on his “Fast Break” podcast.

    The Cavaliers acquired Harden from the Clippers in a trade involving Darius Garland. James ultimately chose the 76ers, joining Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe.

    Former NBA center Olden Polynice pointed to another potential obstacle in Cleveland: Donovan Mitchell.

    Reports have suggested members of James’ camp didn’t view Mitchell as an ideal fit. Polynice offered a straightforward explanation.

    “He needs the ball,” Polynice said of Mitchell. “Donovan is a guy who comes down, looks LeBron off and does his own thing. LeBron’s not trying to deal with that.”

    Polynice said sharing the court in an exhibition is considerably different from making the arrangement work throughout an NBA season.

    “It’s one thing to do it during the All-Star Game,” he said. “It’s another to do it for 82 games.”

    That’s their theory, anyway. James evidently didn’t see the Cavs’ roster as his best fit. Cleveland, meanwhile, remains committed to Harden and Mitchell as it attempts to contend without him.

    A third homecoming didn’t happen. Scott believes it might have if the roster had looked a little different.

  • Donovan Mitchell reportedly extra motivated after LeBron James’ Cavs snub

    Donovan Mitchell reportedly extra motivated after LeBron James’ Cavs snub

    Donovan Mitchell heard the reports. Now he apparently intends to respond.

    NBA insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson said Mitchell is especially motivated entering next season after LeBron James passed on a return to the Cavaliers and signed with the 76ers.

    Robinson recently exchanged text messages with Mitchell and discussed their conversation on SiriusXM host David Shepard’s “The Good Shepard” YouTube show.

    “I’ll save what he said to me,” Robinson said. “But I’ll just say that he is motivated to have a good season. And if unbothered was a person, it would definitely be Donovan Mitchell.”

    That sounds about right.

    Mitchell has been at the center of the conversation since James chose Philadelphia. Robinson previously reported that members of James’ camp were surprised Mitchell remained with the Cavs, believing James may have considered Cleveland more seriously had the organization kept Darius Garland and Evan Mobley while moving Mitchell.

    There is a connection worth noting. Garland is represented by Rich Paul and Klutch Sports, the same agent and agency that represent James. So it’s probably no coincidence Garland’s name keeps surfacing as the player James’ camp wanted to remain in Cleveland.

    Instead, Garland was traded for James Harden, Mitchell remained the centerpiece and James went elsewhere. Now Mitchell gets the opportunity to answer the questions himself.

    Robinson spent significant time around the Cavs last season and said Mitchell has fully embraced Cleveland. So has his fiancée, Coco Jones. More importantly, the city and organization have embraced Mitchell right back.

    “Donovan Mitchell is the epitome of Cleveland,” Robinson said. “He’s not from there, and he spends a lot of time there.”

    Robinson also offered a fitting description of Mitchell’s place within the franchise.

    “Donovan Mitchell, from everything that I’ve seen and heard and just observed, is definitely the main course,” he said.

    And that may be the most important part of all this.

    LeBron had the opportunity to return. He chose another path. The Cavs still have Mitchell, and by all accounts, he is entering next season with something to prove.

    That’s not necessarily bad news for Cleveland.

    RELATED | Cavs aren’t sweating LeBron James’ decision

  • Cavs’ offseason earns poor marks from one NBA analyst after LeBron miss

    Cavs’ offseason earns poor marks from one NBA analyst after LeBron miss

    The Cavaliers are still waiting to finalize James Harden‘s new contract and remain active in the search for another wing. But at least one national NBA analyst isn’t impressed with how the offseason has unfolded.

    Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report handed Cleveland a D+, pointing to the departures of Dean Wade and Keon Ellis, along with the Cavs’ unsuccessful pursuit of LeBron James.

    “We’ll operate under the assumption that the Cleveland Cavaliers re-sign James Harden to a reasonable deal,” Bailey wrote. “But even in that case, it’s hard to sell this offseason as a win.”

    Bailey argued the Cavs lost three potential rotation players, missed on their biggest free-agent target in James and have yet to replace that production.

    Of course, there is also another side to the argument.

    The Cavs reached the Eastern Conference finals a year ago and still expect to bring Harden back on a new multiyear contract. They have also added veteran forward Mario Hezonja following six productive seasons in Europe and remain in the mix for wings such as Jonathan Kuminga and Peyton Watson as they continue exploring the trade market.

    Bailey did point to one encouraging development, praising second-round pick Meleek Thomas after an impressive Summer League in which the rookie averaged 27.2 points.

    If Thomas proves capable of contributing immediately and the Cavs are able to add another wing before training camp, well, hey … the perception of their offseason could change in a hurry.

    RELATED | Cavs aren’t sweating LeBron James’ decision

  • Mario Hezonja contract with Cavs includes trigger date for full guarantee

    Mario Hezonja contract with Cavs includes trigger date for full guarantee

    The Cavaliers’ deal with Mario Hezonja comes with a little extra flexibility.

    According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Hezonja signed a one-year, non-guaranteed contract that becomes fully guaranteed if he remains on Cleveland’s roster beyond Nov. 15. His salary for the season is $2.8 million.

    The agreement was first reported earlier this week by ESPN, with the Cavs officially announcing the signing Friday after several days of paperwork and international clearance issues involving Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid.

    Those delays sparked plenty of speculation overseas, with reports questioning whether Hezonja had properly exercised the NBA-out clause in his Real Madrid contract. None of it changed Cleveland’s plans.

    As Hoops Wire previously reported, the Cavs always expected the 31-year-old forward to be part of next season’s roster. The structure of the contract gives the organization some early-season flexibility, but all indications are that Hezonja is expected to earn a regular role after Dean Wade departed in free agency.

    The former No. 5 overall pick returns to the NBA after six successful seasons in Europe, most recently starring for Real Madrid. He was named Liga ACB MVP last season after averaging 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists while helping one of Europe’s premier clubs remain among the continent’s elite.

    The Cavs, meanwhile, continue to explore additional ways to strengthen the wing position, with Jonathan Kuminga, Peyton Watson and DeMar DeRozan among the players who have been linked in recent weeks.

  • NBA.com ranks East after busy offseason; Knicks, Sixers, Cavs lead the way

    NBA.com ranks East after busy offseason; Knicks, Sixers, Cavs lead the way

    The Eastern Conference may be deeper than it has been in years.

    That’s the opinion of NBA.com’s John Schuhmann, who released his updated Eastern Conference offseason power rankings after a summer that featured LeBron James joining the 76ers, Giannis Antetokounmpo heading to the Heat and plenty of movement throughout the conference.

    Here’s how Schuhmann sees the East entering August:

    1. Knicks
    The defending NBA champions remain the team to beat after adding Andre Drummond to an already proven core led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. The biggest question is whether New York can come close to matching last season’s historically dominant playoff run.

    2. 76ers
    Adding LeBron James and Jaylen Brown vaulted Philadelphia near the top of the conference. Schuhmann believes the talent is obvious, but wonders if the offense will feature enough ball movement and whether Joel Embiid can anchor the defense.

    3. Cavaliers
    Cleveland slipped one spot despite bringing back much of last year’s Eastern Conference finalist roster. Schuhmann points to continuity as a possible strength, while suggesting the Cavs must avoid the slow starts that plagued them throughout last season and the playoffs. Mario Hezonja is listed as the club’s key addition, with James Harden remaining the notable unsigned free agent.

    4. Raptors
    Toronto’s projected trade for Kawhi Leonard has the Raptors climbing near the top of the East, assuming the deal eventually becomes official. Health and rebounding remain the biggest concerns.

    5. Pistons
    Detroit won 60 games a year ago and added John Collins and Isaiah Joe. The biggest question, according to Schuhmann, is whether Cade Cunningham receives enough help offensively.

    6. Celtics
    Boston lost Jaylen Brown but added Paul George and Mitchell Robinson. The Celtics remain talented, though Schuhmann wonders if Derrick White can bounce back offensively.

    7. Pacers
    After a gap year, Indiana expects Tyrese Haliburton back healthy. Schuhmann believes adding Ivica Zubac could stabilize a defense that has struggled for several seasons.

    8. Heat
    Giannis Antetokounmpo transforms Miami’s frontcourt alongside Bam Adebayo, though Schuhmann questions whether the Heat have enough depth and shooting in the backcourt.

    9. Hawks
    Atlanta remains intriguing after adding Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and rookie Kingston Flemings. Much of the ceiling still depends on the continued development of Jalen Johnson.

    10. Magic
    Orlando is largely running it back under new coach Sean Sweeney. Improving the defense and finally solving the team’s long-standing shooting issues remain priorities.

    11. Hornets
    Charlotte underwent major changes after moving LaMelo Ball but still projects as competitive thanks to additions such as Naz Reid, Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale.

    12. Wizards
    The additions of Anthony Davis, Trae Young and No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa make Washington one of the conference’s biggest wild cards.

    13. Bulls
    Chicago enters a new era under coach Tiago Splitter after adding Nic Claxton and Norman Powell. Depth remains the biggest concern.

    14. Nets
    Brooklyn added Julius Randle, Mo Wagner and rookie Mikel Brown Jr., but the focus remains on long-term development more than immediate wins.

    15. Bucks
    Milwaukee begins life after Giannis Antetokounmpo at the bottom of the conference rankings. While the roster features several promising young players, Schuhmann expects growing pains as the franchise begins its rebuild.

  • James Harden, Cavs remain focused on bigger picture as deal nears

    James Harden, Cavs remain focused on bigger picture as deal nears

    James Harden‘s next contract with the Cavaliers continues to look less like a negotiation and more like a collaborative effort.

    According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Cleveland and Harden’s representatives are working together on a new deal designed to accomplish two goals: Reward the 11-time All-Star while preserving enough financial flexibility for the Cavs to continue upgrading the roster.

    In other words, this has become a matter of structure, not destination.

    Scotto reported that Harden’s camp and the Cavs have discussed both two- and three-year contract scenarios. As we’ve previously reported, there has been little doubt throughout the process that Harden intends to remain in Cleveland.

    The question has simply been what the final contract will look like. That patience also appears tied to the Cavs’ continued search for another wing.

    Scotto confirmed the Cavs recently reached out to Denver about restricted free agent Peyton Watson after also exploring sign-and-trade possibilities involving Jonathan Kuminga.

    James Harden, Cavaliers, Cavs, Raptors, Ja'Kobe Walter, NBA
    AP

    The Nuggets continue seeking at least a first-round pick and a proven rotation player for Watson, a price that has slowed talks around the league.

    Meanwhile, as the Cavs continue surveying the trade market, expiring contracts belonging to Max Strus and Dennis Schroder remain among the club’s most logical trade pieces. They also have future draft capital available if the right opportunity presents itself.

    All that aside, the message hasn’t really changed.

    The Harden deal appears headed toward the finish line. The Cavs simply aren’t done looking for ways to improve before they get there.

  • Cavs officially sign Mario Hezonja after days of overseas speculation

    Cavs officially sign Mario Hezonja after days of overseas speculation

    Mario Hezonja is officially a member of the Cavaliers.

    After several days of paperwork, overseas reports and questions surrounding his release from Real Madrid, the Cavaliers announced Friday that they have signed the veteran forward, putting an end to the uncertainty.

    Turns out, it really was just a matter of making everything official.

    Hezonja agreed to a one-year deal with Cleveland earlier this week, but the signing was delayed as the sides worked through the final steps required to bring the Croatian forward back to the NBA.

    The wait fueled plenty of speculation in Europe. Reports suggested Real Madrid questioned whether Hezonja had properly exercised his NBA exit clause, while one overseas report even floated the possibility that Cleveland could help facilitate his departure before he ultimately signed elsewhere.

    None of that materialized. As we previously reported, the Cavs remained confident Hezonja would be part of next season’s roster, and that’s exactly how things played out.

    Now 31, Hezonja returns to the NBA after spending the past six seasons overseas, most recently starring for Real Madrid. He was named Liga ACB MVP last season after averaging 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists while helping one of Europe’s premier clubs remain among the continent’s elite.

    He also helped Real Madrid win the 2023 EuroLeague championship and earned All-EuroLeague Second Team honors in 2024.

    The former No. 5 overall pick spent five NBA seasons with the Magic, Knicks and Trail Blazers before heading overseas in 2020.

    The Cavs are expected to use Hezonja as part of their regular wing rotation after losing Dean Wade in free agency. Cleveland also continues to explore additional ways to bolster that position before training camp, with free agents such as Jonathan Kuminga, DeMar DeRozan and Peyton Watson still believed to be on the organization’s radar.

  • Cavs still pursuing Peyton Watson as James Harden waits

    Cavs still pursuing Peyton Watson as James Harden waits

    The Cavaliers apparently aren’t finished exploring ways to upgrade the wing.

    Appearing on ESPN’s NBA Today, NBA insider Ramona Shelburne said Cleveland remains engaged in its pursuit of Nuggets restricted free agent Peyton Watson, suggesting that’s one reason James Harden has yet to finalize a new contract with the team.

    “The Cavs are still poking around with Peyton Watson,” Shelburne said. “And I think that’s why James has given them a lot of room to negotiate.”

    The Cavs have been linked to Watson throughout the offseason, though completing a deal has never appeared easy.

    Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com recently reported Denver is believed to be seeking a first-round draft pick and a quality rotation player in any sign-and-trade involving the 23-year-old forward.

    Watson also is reportedly looking for a contract starting in the $20 million to $25 million range, further complicating negotiations.

    Cleveland has also been connected to Jonathan Kuminga and DeMar DeRozan as it continues searching for additional help on the wing.

    The Cavs, meanwhile, already reached an agreement with Mario Hezonja and continue to view him as part of the regular rotation entering next season.

    None of that appears to have changed.

    What Shelburne’s report does suggest is that the Cavs still aren’t ready to close the book on adding another wing before officially wrapping up Harden’s new contract.